September 23, 2010

Dear Student,

We are graduate students in the Masters of Mass Communication program at University of South Carolina. We are researching the use of smart phones among USC students. This study is important because there is little research on the topic, but the number of students using smart phones has increased from 27 percent in 2009 to a staggering 49 percent in 2010.

Attached is a questionnaire asking about your use of smart phones and your motivations for using one. We are asking that you spend about five minutes to complete this survey. You should understand that your participation is voluntary.

This questionnaire will not ask you to provide us with any information about your identity.

Instructions are located in the questionnaire, clearly stating what to do for each question. Please circle or write in the first answer that comes to mind for each question.

When you complete the questionnaire, please return it to the person who gave you the questionnaire, who also will be glad to answer any questions you may have about the survey.

Thank you for participating in this research. We really appreciate your time and effort.

September 23, 2010

Dear Student,

We are graduate students in the Masters of Mass Communication program at University of South Carolina. We are researching the use of smart phones among

USC students. This study is important because there is little research on the topic, but the number of students using smart phones has increased from 27 percent in

2009 to a staggering 49 percent in 2010.

Attached is a questionnaire asking about your use of smart phones and your motivations for using one. We are asking that you spend about five minutes to

complete this survey. You should understand that your participation is voluntary.

This questionnaire will not ask you to provide us with any information about your identity.

Instructions are located in the questionnaire, clearly stating what to do for each question. Please circle or write in the first answer that comes to mind for each

question.

When you complete the questionnaire, please return it to the person who gave you the questionnaire, who also will be glad to answer any questions you may have

about the survey.

Thank you for participating in this research. We really appreciate your time and effort.

QQuestionnaire

Q1. The first set of questions is intended to gather some general information about your smart phone. In the space provided, please answer the following questions.

a) Which brand of smart phone do you use?

b) How many months or years have you had your smart phone?

_______________________ years ________________________ months

c) Overall, how many hours a day would you say you use your smart phone? Please include time spent talking, texting and using data applications.

_________________________ hours _______________________minutes

Q2. The next question will ask you for the amount of time you use the different features of your smart phone.

On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is almost never and 5 is very often, please circle the answer that best fits how often you use each of the features of your smart phone in a typical month.

a. Shopping 1 2 3 4 5b. News 1 2 3 4 5c. Weather 1 2 3 4 5d. Research 1 2 3 4 5e. Watching movie clips/YouTube 1 2 3 4 5f. Social Media 1 2 3 4 5g. Music 1 2 3 4 5h. Games 1 2 3 4 5i. GPS 1 2 3 4 5j. Email 1 2 3 4 5k. Phone 1 2 3 4 5l. Text 1 2 3 4 5m. Calendar 1 2 3 4 5n. Calculator 1 2 3 4 5o. Camera 1 2 3 4

5

Q3. The next series of questions focus on the reasons you use your smart phone.

On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is strongly disagree and 5 is strongly agree, please circle the statements that apply to you on a regular basis.

I use my smart phone ….

a) When I have nothing better to do 1 2 3 4 5b) Because it’s nearby 1 2 3 4 5c) Because it passes the time faster 1 2 3 4 5d) When there is no one else to talk to 1 2 3 4 5

I use my smart phone to…e) Be accessible at all times 1 2 3 4 5f) Be up to date with my family & friends 1 2 3 4 5g) Interact with others 1 2 3 4 5h) Get to know others better 1 2 3 4 5

I use my smart phone to...i) Get instant answers to my questions 1 2 3 4 5j) Change appointments on short notice 1 2 3 4 5k) Avoid waiting to use my computer 1 2 3 4 5l) Get instant access to sports scores 1 2 3 4 5m) Quickly check movie times 1 2 3 4 5

I use my smart phone to…n) To help plan and organize my life 1 2 3 4 5o) Access Banking Information 1 2 3 4 5p) All-in-one device (computer on the go) 1 2 3 4 5q) Wireless internet and email 1 2 3 4 5

I think my smart phone…r) Is enjoyable 1 2 3 4 5s) Is a way to have fun 1 2 3 4 5t) Is good for playing games 1 2 3 4 5u) Is a source of entertainment 1 2 3 4 5

I use my smart phone to…v) Interact with professors and classmates 1 2 3 4 5w) Obtain class notes easily 1 2 3 4 5x) Check grades or Blackboard 1 2 3 4 5y) Access VIP 1 2 3 4 5

I use my smart phone to…z) Get directions 1 2 3 4 5aa) Look up things I need to know about daily life 1 2 3 4 5bb) Research (Google, Wikipedia, etc.) 1 2 3 4 5cc) Stay up to date on current events 1 2 3 4 5

Q4. For the following questions, please circle the answer that best applies to you.

a) Which of the following most describes the reason that you first began using a smart phone as opposed to a regular phone? (Pick all that apply.)1 Immediate information (news)2 GPS use3 Entertainment/Games4 Email5 All-in-one device6 Other (please specify) _______________________________

b) Do you use your smart phone more for communication purposes (voice calling/texting) or for data purposes (internet, applications)?1 Communication more2 Data more3 Equal Amount

Q5. The following question will ask you about your gender. Demographics

a) Are you male or female? Your gender1 Male2 Female

b) Your ethinicityethnicity1. Caucasian2. Asian3. African American4. Hispanic5. Others ____________________

c)